Sri Lanka Highlight 8 day

DAY 01 : Arrival at Bandaranayake International Airport Welcome by ground handling representatives and transfer to Colombo. Check in at Trans Asia Hotel. In the afternoon do a city tour of Colombo, like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar – where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum and the Dutch Museum. Overnight stay at Trans Asia Hotel.

DAY 02 :After breakfast, check out and transfer to Dambulla. En-route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. This unique establishment was set up to care for elephants that were either abandoned or injured in the wild, you can see about 70 elephants at close range. Feeding and bathing times are the best to visit this orphanage. Drive to Dambulla. Visit Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla rock temple has been built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a world heritage site. Also, it is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters. Check in at Kandalama Hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Kandalama Hotel.

DAY 03 :After breakfast, proceed to Polonnaruwa. Visit Polonnaruwa, which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and which is a world heritage site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock could be seen, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of king Parakramabahu, and the Parakrama Samudraya – a lake built by King Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic. Return to the hotel. Stop at Sigiriya to climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster. Overnight stay at Kandalama Hotel.

DAY 04 :After breakfast check out and transfer to Kandy. En-route visit a spice garden at Matale. Check in at Mahaweli Reach Hotel. Rest of the day spend leisurly at the hotel. In the evening enjoy a cultural performance . Overnight stay at Mahaweli Reach Hotel.

DAY 05 : After a late breakfast enjoy a city tour in Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a World Heritage Site. The name “Kandy” conjures visions of splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Proceed to Peradeniya to visit Royal Botanical Garden. The Peradeniya Botanical Garden is easily one of the best of its kind in the World. The many beautiful avenues will lead one to sections, which provide a burst of tropical color. We recommend you to stay at least 02 hours and then only you will find about Sri Lankan species of flora and fauna. Return to the hotel. En-route visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Overnight stay at Mahaweli Reach Hotel.

DAY 06 : After breakfast, check out and proceed to Nuwara-Eliya. En-route visit a tea factory and a tea estate. Reach at Nuwara-Eliya. Visit Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka s tea country producing a significant share of the world best tea. Sri Lanka s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia. Check in at The Tea Factory Hotel. Spend the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Tea Factory Hotel.

DAY 07 : After breakfast, check out and transfer to Hambantota. Check in at Oasis Hotel. In the late afternoon enjoy a jeep safari at Yala National Park. Yala is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka which is the home for wild elephants, wild boars, wild buffaloes, leopards, bears, deer and crocodiles. Large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds are also found here. Overnight stay at Oasis Hotel.

DAY 08 : After breakfast, check out and transfer to air port or the beach Resort..

Your Contract for all tour arrangements is directly withour Partner company organising your tour in the country of your choice, to whom payment for the tour is made.

2. Eight weeks prior to arrival in the country of your choice (or on Acceptance) – 50% of the cost is payable in US$ (or the currency of the country) by Credit Card or International Bank Transfer, direct to the company in the country of your choice. 3. On arrival in the country of your choice – the remaining 50% is payable, in US$ (or the currency of the country) by Credit Card or Cash.

Cancellation Charges 35 days prior to arrival a cancellation fee of £100 per person will be applicable. 30 days notice of cancellation a fee of 25% of the total amount will be applicable. 25 days notice of cancellation a fee of 50% of the total amount will be applicable Less than 25 days notice incurs the full amount. Acceptance Payment non refundable

Included in the Cost

Accommodation on a twin sharing basis in the hotels mentioned above or equivalent – subject to availability.

Any single room subject to supplement shown.

Room and breakfast basis – or meals as indicated in the itinerary (B), (L) and (D)

Full board at Wildlife Park if applicable.

All transfers, sightseeing and excursions by air-conditioned vehicle where appropriate.

Services of an English speaking local guide (or a naturalist in National Parks)

Entrance fees at monuments and parks where applicable

Train journeys where applicable

International and Domestic economy airfares in Asia, indicated in the itinerary, are subject to change.

Basic porterage at airports, rail stations and hotels (not tips).

All currently applicable taxes.

All transportation in the Philippines by land, sea private vehicle

Where US$ are quoted the UK pounds price shown is for comparison only and is subject to change.